Voter Registration and Turnout
Voter registration is a strong indicator of citizen commitment to their communities. The Hampton Roads region ranks third highest in voter registration rates among the regions in Virginia.
Why is This Important?
The Hampton Roads region seeks to have citizens who are informed and engaged, and who actively participate in their communities. Voting not only helps to ensure that the results of an election accurately reflect the will of the people, but also serves as a measure of how engaged people are in their communities.
How is Hampton Roads Doing?
There are various ways to look at voter registration and turnout. One method is to measure the number of ballots counted as a percent of the estimated voting age population (VAP). This measure reflects the percentage of the population who register and vote. In 2008, the Hampton Roads region placed third among Virginia's eight regions with 62.9 percent of the VAP casting ballots. This compares with the Central region's high rate of 66.8 percent and the state average of 63.1 percent.
Registration rates are available over time for the voting age population. The Virginia State Board of Elections reported that 82.2 percent of Virginia's VAP had active registrations for the 2008 elections. The Hampton Roads region ranked third in registration rates with 82.8 percent, while the Northern region had the highest registration rate at 84.6 percent.
What Influences Voter Registration and Turnout?
Presidential elections play a significant role in determining voter registration and turnout rates. In years with a presidential election, such as 2004 or 2008, turnout was much higher than years with only congressional or gubernatorial elections, such as 2002 or 2005. Voting patterns among all demographic groups in every state closely follow this trend.
Registration requirements also may impact whether people vote, including:
- Registration before election day.
- Cut-off dates for registration.
- The length of time at a new residence.
- Convenience of registration.
Data Definitions and Sources
Source for local Voter Turnout using VAP: U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Election Day Survey.
Source for Virginia state and locality Voter Registration using VAP: Virginia State Board of Elections. Registrations are registrations recorded at close of registration books prior to the November election.
The Voting Age Population (VAP) is the estimated number of people over the age of 18 in an area. The VAP estimate includes people who are ineligible to vote such as illegal aliens or felons, but excludes resident voters living abroad, such as for military or work reasons.
See the Data Sources and Updates Calendar for a detailed list of the data resources used for indicator measures on Hampton Roads Performs.
